Former CM N Chandrababu Naidu moves Andhra Pradesh High Court against judicial remand in skill development scam case

Former State Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu has moved the Andhra Pradesh High Court against the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) court order remanding him to 14 days of judicial custody in connection with the skill development program scam case..The High Court will hear the case on Wednesday (September 13)..The ACB court today also rejected the application moved by Naidu seeking house remand owing to the purported threats he faces..The investigation against Naidu centers around a scheme that allegedly diverted government funds intended for a skill development project into various shell companies through fraudulent invoices, which did not correspond with the delivery of services.A special court at Vijayawada hearing cases probed by the ACB passed the remand order under challenge after considering rival contentions by the State Crime Investigation Department (CID) and Naidu..In his plea challenging the CID's remand report against him, Naidu had asserted before the Vijayawada court that he had been falsely implicated in the case.He also claimed that there was a clear statutory violation of Section 17A of the Prevention of Corruption Act. Section 17A deals with the need for prior sanction to inquire into the actions of public servants done in the discharge of their official duties.Naidu's petition contended that in his case, since he was Chief Minster, the Governor of the State would be the sanctioning authority..Special judge BSV Himabindu determined that the material on record prima facie made out a case against Naidu for offences under the Indian Penal Code (IPC) as well as the Prevention of Corruption Act.The Court further held that Naidu, while holding the office of the Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh, prima facie engaged in criminal conspiracy and colluded with others to cause misappropriation of government funds to the tune of ₹279 crore."The above material in the remand report, statement of witnesses, material collected in the CD File and accused alteration memo on record, prima facie shows that Accused no.37 in pursuance of criminal conspiracy, while holding his office as public servant colluded with other accused committed misappropriation of government funds to the tune of Rs.279 crores by corrupt and illegal methods huge loss to the Government Exchequer," the order stated.The Court also said that there was prima facie material to establish the nexus between Naidu and other accused and his role in approving the skill development project and its activities..Prima facie case of cheating, forgery, corruption against N Chandrababu Naidu: Special ACB Court